My diary about my life as a writer with a day job, entrepreneur, reader, health enthusiast, and runner; random thoughts, new discoveries and whatever else that keeps me in the throes of everlasting procrastination.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Yesterday, I went to Barnes and Noble with the intention to write. I often take my laptop there, pick up a book or magazine, read a little, then write. I skimmed the latest issue of Poets & Writers and the July issue of The Writer. I got a lot of useful information out of it, so I decided to buy the August issue. I used to be an avid reader of Writer's Digest and I've gotten away from it. I think these magazines have brief perspectives on the elements of writing that spark inspiration and drive in writing. I immediately came home and went through my outline to ensure that I had conflict in every chapter. That was one of the articles. It talks about keeping the reader interested in your story once they've gotten beyond your great beginning. The way to do that is to ensure that there's conflict in every chapter. Now, actually, I understood this before. When I do my plot outline, I write it by the major action of each character in that chapter. However, I wasn't specifically focused on the level of conflict in that chapter. I think this focus will help me to improve the story.

Um...it also had an article on, basically, writer procrastination. But hey, I did go home and get my writing in. :-)

I think it's time to subcribe to writing magazines since Zinio doesn't offer a digital version. :-( I have a couple of subscriptions there and it's great! You can read your magazines online or download them yourself. I like it because I can keep my magazines on file instead of trying to keep a physical copy around when I want to save an article, which usually adds up to clutter. So, guess I will have to have actually magazines delivered. How old school is that?!

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comments:

Hope you're having a good weekend. It sounds like its a good issue so I might go pick up that issue. I used to have a subscription to Writer's Digest and let it lapse. I might start it back when they send me a special promo :)

Cherlyn

About Cherlyn

Cherlyn Michaels is the author of Counting Raindrops Through a Stained Glass Window (Hyperion Books, 2005) and First Fridays (Hyperion Books, 2007). Cherlyn resides in Georgia where she works as an Engineer. She is currently working on her third novel and other writing projects.